Janne Lahti

[robb himself 143]

I have heard rumour (eklund sadly), that the Wings may be interested in him. I usually wouldnt even care about anything eklund says but this seems right up Hollands ally(Leino,I.Filppula). He scored 37 goals for Jokerit last season and is set to become UFA.

Personally I would be all for it, at the right price tag.

Thoughts?

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

Interesting but I really haven't heard much about the guy...

[Konnan511 1,736]

Noooooooo. Pulkkinen was THE reason this guy had the season he did. The Worlds showed that he is NOTHING without Pulu. Do not want.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I have heard rumour (eklund sadly), that the Wings may be interested in him. I usually wouldnt even care about anything eklund says but this seems right up Hollands ally(Leino,I.Filppula). He scored 37 goals for Jokerit last season and is set to become UFA.

Personally I would be all for it, at the right price tag.

Thoughts?

As long as he's willing to put in the work ethic, pay his dues in the AHL and EARN a spot on the roster... I. Flip did pretty well, but even he wasn't willing to wait his turn, so to speak and Leino was flat out a primadona, so I'd be a little skeptical of him, but give the circumstances were right (cheap, 2-way deal and he has to EARN a roster spot) why the hell not?

Noooooooo. Pulkkinen was THE reason this guy had the season he did. The Worlds showed that he is NOTHING without Pulu. Do not want.

I admittedly know nothing about Lahti, so I'll take your word for it... maybe Holland wants to re-unite them in GR, haha

[Finnish Wing 110]

As long as he's willing to put in the work ethic, pay his dues in the AHL and EARN a spot on the roster... I. Flip did pretty well, but even he wasn't willing to wait his turn, so to speak and Leino was flat out a primadona, so I'd be a little skeptical of him, but give the circumstances were right (cheap, 2-way deal and he has to EARN a roster spot) why the hell not?

I admittedly know nothing about Lahti, so I'll take your word for it... maybe Holland wants to re-unite them in GR, haha

Ilari waited the whole season and never got to play a single NHL game, there were always prospects ahead of him. Of course I'd probably call up potential future players as well if I were in Kenny's shoes. But you can't blame him for not waiting.

Lahti is nothing special IMO. He will be a good AHLer, but I don't see him having any future at the NHL level.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

As long as he's willing to put in the work ethic, pay his dues in the AHL and EARN a spot on the roster... I. Flip did pretty well, but even he wasn't willing to wait his turn, so to speak and Leino was flat out a primadona, so I'd be a little skeptical of him, but give the circumstances were right (cheap, 2-way deal and he has to EARN a roster spot) why the hell not?

I think that's a bit of a strech. I don't see him causing issues in Philly. Just cause he didn't want to stay in the AHL, doesn't make him a prima donna. He performed well as a recruit, and didn't fit in as a regular player. We also needed to cut someone from the roster at the time. Pretty simple.

As to Janne Lahti, I'm not impressed. If they wanna try him out on a 2-way or AHL contract I wouldn't complain tho.

Edited June 15, 2011 by CaliWingsNut

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I think that's a bit of a strech. I don't see him causing issues in Philly. Just cause he didn't want to stay in the AHL, doesn't make him a prima donna. He performed well as a recruit, and didn't fit in as a regular player. We also needed to cut someone from the roster at the time. Pretty simple.

As to Janne Lahti, I'm not impressed. If they wanna try him out on a 2-way or AHL contract I wouldn't complain tho.

Leino likes Philly because he has more freedom there. Apparently Babcock had too much structure for his liking.

So yes, I would call that prima donna behavior.

[P. Marlowe 748]

I think that's a bit of a strech. I don't see him causing issues in Philly. Just cause he didn't want to stay in the AHL, doesn't make him a prima donna. He performed well as a recruit, and didn't fit in as a regular player. We also needed to cut someone from the roster at the time. Pretty simple.

I agree. He's much like Hudler - not very useful as a bottom six forward, but good in a same line with top forwards. Wings didn't have space for him, Flyers did.

Leino likes Philly because he has more freedom there. Apparently Babcock had too much structure for his liking.

So yes, I would call that prima donna behavior.

Sources, sources.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I agree. He's much like Hudler - not very useful as a bottom six forward, but good in a same line with top forwards. Wings didn't have space for him, Flyers did.

Sources, sources.

Detroit emphasises two way play. Leino no like two way play. leino no like Detroit. Philly no care bout' two-way play. Leino like philly.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Leino likes Philly because he has more freedom there. Apparently Babcock had too much structure for his liking.

So yes, I would call that prima donna behavior.

He's playing the role he's best at in Philly, a 1-way playmaker w/ protection. A role he was very unlikely to receive in Detroit.

Then again, I assume you would consider anyone not half enforcer a prima donna.

[Konnan511 1,736]

He's playing the role he's best at in Philly, a 1-way playmaker w/ protection. A role he was very unlikely to receive in Detroit.

Then again, I assume you would consider anyone not half enforcer a prima donna.

Doc's defended Filppula before...that's as un-enforcer as it gets

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He's playing the role he's best at in Philly, a 1-way playmaker w/ protection. A role he was very unlikely to receive in Detroit.

Then again, I assume you would consider anyone not half enforcer a prima donna.

Someone calling Doc an enforcer slappy? What's going on around here these days

[Finnish Wing 110]

Leino likes Philly because he has more freedom there. Apparently Babcock had too much structure for his liking.

So yes, I would call that prima donna behavior.

I think there's a difference between having some freedom or being forced to play in an entirely different role.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I think there's a difference between having some freedom or being forced to play in an entirely different role.

Except Leino wasn't drafted by the Wings and freely chose to sign with us knowing what system we play in.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Ilari waited the whole season and never got to play a single NHL game, there were always prospects ahead of him. Of course I'd probably call up potential future players as well if I were in Kenny's shoes. But you can't blame him for not waiting.

Lahti is nothing special IMO. He will be a good AHLer, but I don't see him having any future at the NHL level.

and although I can see where that would be frustrating for Ilari and considering his age, he isn't exactly going to develop a whole lot more... he still only gave it a single season... had he stuck with the organization this season, I bet he would have seen NHL action and then for the 2012-2013 season, who knows?

I am going to defer to those who know more and according to what everyone is saying about Lahti, seems that he isn't worth it...

[Finnish Wing 110]

Except Leino wasn't drafted by the Wings and freely chose to sign with us knowing what system we play in.

System and role, two entirely different things. System is the general style the team plays - Red Wings plays mostly puck possession that suites players like Leino well. Holmstrom and Zetterberg have different roles even though they play the same system.

Leino was on the right role in the AHL. But in the NHL the role Leino usually had been in had already been taken by Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Babcock wanted him to play more Cleary-like game while Leino himself had always been playing the Datsyuk-like game.

It would basically be the same if we now decided to sign Lahti, have him play a year in the AHL on a offensive role that he's good in and then try to bring him up as a some kind of grinder.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Finnish Wing

[Konnan511 1,736]

System and role, two entirely different things. System is the general style the team plays - Red Wings plays mostly puck possession that suites players like Leino well. Holmstrom and Zetterberg have different roles even though they play the same system.

Leino was on the right role in the AHL. But in the NHL the role Leino usually had been in had already been taken by Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Babcock wanted him to play more Cleary-like game while Leino himself had always been playing the Datsyuk-like game.

It would basically be the same if we now decided to sign Lahti, have him play a year in the AHL on a offensive role that he's good in and then try to bring him up as a some kind of grinder.

And no matter what your role is on the Wings, you are expected to play defense according to the system. Leino failed at the system and he failed at his role at his team. Hudler is currently 0 for 2 as well and we will see how much longer he is here. Lahti, I'm assuming, wouldn't thrive in an offensive role in a north american game (we saw what happens when he doesn't have an elite playmaker at the Worlds) and he definately doesn't fit into the Wings system at all.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Except Leino wasn't drafted by the Wings and freely chose to sign with us knowing what system we play in.

Playing for a contending NHL team, who was interested in his potential, with finnish players, and Datsyuk, and Lidstrom, vs potentially not fitting in... hmm... tough choice.

Edited June 15, 2011 by CaliWingsNut

[Cevari 68]

Lahti is a picture-perfect example of a player who does well in the FEL but wouldn't be anything in the NHL if you ask me. Relies too much on skill, which is enough playing in a bigger rink with way less skilled players against him but put him in the NHL and suddenly he has no room and even the opposing grind liners can reach the same skill levels, with better speed and strength in many cases.

Unless they want him in GR I don't see any point in bringing him over. Would love to be proven wrong of course, the more finns the merrier.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Playing for a contending NHL team, who was interested in his potential, with finnish players, and Datsyuk, and Lidstrom, vs potentially not fitting in... hmm... tough choice.

Brunnstrom (SWE): Dallas or Detroit? Tough choice.... Dallas??? WTF???

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Brunnstrom (SWE): Dallas or Detroit? Tough choice.... Dallas??? WTF???

yeah... I was confused by that one too.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Then again, I assume you would consider anyone not half enforcer a prima donna.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I think there's a difference between having some freedom or being forced to play in an entirely different role.

Right, I forgot that Leino prefers to be a perimeter player instead of actually getting into gritty areas.

All Babcock's fault.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

He's playing the role he's best at in Philly, a 1-way playmaker w/ protection. A role he was very unlikely to receive in Detroit.

Then again, I assume you would consider anyone not half enforcer a prima donna.

Hey, that's my line!

This Latte guys sounds like a soft euro.

Edited June 15, 2011 by GMRwings1983

[Finnish Wing 110]

Right, I forgot that Leino prefers to be a perimeter player instead of actually getting into gritty areas.

All Babcock's fault.

So you can score 21 points in 19 playoff games and be a perimeter player these days? Either NHL's level has dropped drastically or Philadelphia's water has some magic powder in it. Or MAYBE just maybe, everything's not so simple as it looks on the ice.

Maybe there's a reason Leino played like he did here and how he did in Philly. I find it very hard to believe that the only thing that mattered in the change was Leino himself.